China cancels the prime minister’s annual press appearance for the first time in three decades |

When asked, Beijing opts for silence. The Chinese authorities announced this Tuesday the cancellation of the traditional press conference that the Prime Minister – Li Qiang, since last year – usually gives at the end of the great political event of the year, the so-called “two sessions”, which take place this week. This appearance before the media by the Chief Executive has been held uninterruptedly for three decades, and it was one of the few moments that allowed the press (foreigners included) to fire questions directly at China’s second-highest-ranking leader. Although the issues used to be conveniently filtered, the cancellation sends a signal of opacity at a time when questions are growing regarding the country’s economic slowdown and the excessive weight of National Security in the Asian giant’s political guidelines manual.

Li, number two in the Communist Party and faithful lieutenant of Xi Jinping, still maintains the aura of openness and friend of business that he carved out at the head of key party positions in three of the country’s great economic vectors: Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shanghai . With a position of strong economic content, although always within the role demanded of him by the number one of the party, Xi Jinping, the prime minister was in charge of attending the Davos forum in January to spread the friendly message that China welcomes “with “open arms” investments by foreign companies and seeks to foster a “market-oriented, law-based” business environment. Last year, in his first appearance before reporters, he said that China sought to promote “high-level opening-up” and inject “greater vitality into development.”

During the “two sessions” the meetings of the Consultative Conference – a multitudinous and colorful advisory body – take place in parallel, whose plenary session began this Monday, and of the National People’s Assembly – the Chinese Legislature, with little oversight power and under the control of the Communist Party—, whose opening ceremony will take place this Tuesday. If this March conclave was an opportunity to observe where the weight of the balance was leaning in the tense struggle between greater state control and economic growth, there is already a first sign of that inclination, very much in line with the growing control of the Party that It has been brewing over the last decade, since Xi came to power. The previous prime minister, Li Keqiang, already saw how his role, which he has traditionally played as a counterweight, was undermined and overshadowed by the figure of the general secretary of the party and president of the country.

The announcement of Li’s absence was made by Lou Qinjian, speaker of the Assembly. “Unless special circumstances arise, this provision will continue for the remainder of the legislature,” he specified. That is to say: until 2027. Lou has hidden the absence in that there will be other opportunities to question various leaders of ministerial rank regarding diplomacy, economics and social issues of the Chinese population. Another press conference that is usually held on the margins of the “two sessions” is that of the Foreign Minister, currently Wang Yi. Last year, this conference was given by the then minister Qin Gang, who disappeared a little more than three months later, was relieved of his position and remains absent today, with no official explanation from the authorities.

Growth target for 2024

In any case, the prime minister is scheduled to read his work report on Tuesday during the opening day of the plenary session of the Assembly. He is expected to announce, among other things, the GDP growth target for 2024. There will be other reports as well, from the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission, which, according to the spokesperson, already address “ the main concerns of different sectors.” Lou has drawn a forecast of the Chinese economy with “more favorable conditions than challenges” and has reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to legislative work aimed at “high-quality growth”, one of Beijing’s mantras at a time when Data on GDP increases are far from the explosive figures of yesteryear.

The aforementioned spokesperson, in response to questions from the international press, has also attacked foreign media that have “misinterpreted” Beijing’s recent legislative changes linked to espionage, which have put the foreign business community on alert, especially the western. Last week the Assembly approved the first reform of the State Secrets Law since 2010, whose articles expand the scope of what are considered “work secrets” and may further complicate companies’ access to relevant information for making investments. .

In 2023, the anti-espionage law has been reformed and the authorities have acted once morest consulting companies with links abroad through raids and arrests linked to counter-espionage measures. Lou has assured that the legislative changes have “refined” the definition of espionage, clarified “the line between legal and illegal activities” and provided a “greater sense of security” to companies and individuals who decide to invest or live in China. “We oppose any attempt to denigrate or attack China’s business environment by misinterpreting the Anti-Espionage Act,” she said. And he has reiterated the kind message: “China’s door is always open to the world and will never close.”

“We are receiving clear signals that this type of approach more focused on state control will prevail,” said Nis Grünberg, senior analyst at the German think tank Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics), during an online meeting last year. Friday. “Security as the core of development seems to remain the main logic that drives everything or, in other words, that is limiting everything in terms of openness and market reforms.”

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